Winter time, turn it on! Basically it is on during the time of the year we don't or can't have a window/door open. I often say we turn it on when the furnace starts kicking out heat for the winter, but it is the same logic. We NEED to exchange air when our windows and doors open less.
We recommend that you run your air exchanger for twenty minutes every hour, this will save you money on your heating. By ensuring your appliance is properly installed, this will provide you with more comfort, better air quality, a good way to control humidity inside.
In order to maximize your house's indoor air quality and consequently your health, you should take every opportunity when the outdoor conditions are comfortable (for example at night) to run your air exchanger.
The idea would be for the HRV to run continually until it is reducing or adding to the indoor humidity too much. I would recommend starting at 40% in winter and 50% in summer. This way, the HRV will shut off if indoor humidity levels drop below 40% in winter or rise above 50% in summer.
By modulating indoor temperature and humidity levels, an air exchanger helps maintain a more consistent indoor environment. This stability reduces the strain on your HVAC system, leading to improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
Regulate humidity: Air exchangers eliminate excess moisture, which helps keep your home comfortable—not too humid and not too dry.
Not only does it require electricity to run the air exchanger, but the air the exchanger brings into your house must be brought up to temperature. This may require that more electric is used to cool your building or that more fuel is also required for heating.
Run Continuously at a Lower Speed
One strategy is to run your air exchanger continuously at a lower speed, providing a constant exchange of indoor and outdoor air. This method can be effective in maintaining good indoor air quality and preventing rapid fluctuations in humidity and pollutant levels.
Both heat and cold exposure can cause harmful alterations of HRV that were related with the development of cardiovascular disorders (Acharya et al., 2006; Peng et al., 2015).
SNOW Mode. Maximizes controllability on snowy road through powertrain settings. SNOW mode does not allow you to drive on snowy or frozen roads in all situations. There are limits to SNOW mode.
Signs of a Properly Functioning Air Exchanger
Stable Indoor Humidity Levels: One of the main roles of an air exchanger is to regulate humidity levels. If your indoor humidity is stable and within a comfortable range (between 30% and 50%), it's likely your air exchanger is functioning correctly.
Air exchangers are quite durable, and can easily last 15-20 years. With proper maintenance, it's possible for air exchange units to last as long as 25 years.
Superior ventilation. Elimination of pollutants (tobacco smoke, cleaning product vapours…) Reduced risk of mould and mildew. Better energy efficiency for heating and air conditioning appliances (electric, heat pump, etc.)
Basically it is on during the time of the year we don't or can't have a window/door open. I often say we turn it on when the furnace starts kicking out heat for the winter, but it is the same logic. We NEED to exchange air when our windows and doors open less.
During the winter months, you should open your house at least once a day, no matter how bitterly cold it is outside. It doesn't have to be for long, opening a window or door for even just a few minutes will create a cross-draught. The old, damp air will exit your home and fresh air will return.
LOW AIRFLOW
Without sufficient warm air, the coils will freeze over with water that has not had the chance to condense away. There are many causes of poor airflow. These include dirty air filters, which act as a muzzle to the unit, or closed air registers.
A consistent baseline score of 70 or higher is associated with health; whereas levels between 50 and 70 are compromised health and diseases; whereas a regular HRV below 50 puts the person at risk for catastrophic illness and even death.
Cold exposure, such as taking cold showers or cold plunges, can also help improve HRV. Exposure to cold activates the vagus nerve, which plays a critical role in parasympathetic regulation. This can lead to enhanced HRV and improved stress resilience over time.
Many factors can contribute to low HRV during sleep, including stress, alcohol, and underlying health conditions. A low HRV during sleep is associated with longer sleep latency and lower-quality sleep. Adjusting your lifestyle and speaking with a healthcare provider can help improve your HRV during sleep.
Since the colder outdoor air is usually drier in the winter, an HRV can also help reduce excessive humidity in your home. We recommend setting your HRV to “minimum” or “vent”. However, the 20/40 setting is also good because it only runs the system for 20 minutes every hour.
We recommend that our clients use their HRV systems anytime all the windows and doors in their home are closed, but the system should be shut off when you open them again to conserve energy.
Unfortunately, this is a common myth. Closing HVAC circulation to certain rooms may result in issues with your ducts. It creates a less efficient heating and cooling system and can be dangerous. Ultimately, closing vents in your home isn't a good strategy for saving on energy costs.
Keep It Turned On
This one might seem obvious, but you must use your air exchanger to enjoy its benefits. So don't think you are wasting a significant amount of energy by turning the device on. Your air exchanger is most effective when run continuously.
An HRV is a controlled ventilation system that recovers and recycles energy from an Exhaust Air Stream. In winter the HRV recovers available heated energy, and in Summer, if your home is air conditioned, the HRV recovers cooled energy.
The agency says it is “normal” for an air exchanger's motor to overheat, make noise and emit smoke when it reaches the end of its life, but the integrated safety device and current limiter shut off the power supply to prevent a fire. A total of 207,000 units of the affected products were sold in Canada.